On the left, Harwinn House, once the village butchers, home of Denzil and Lisa Vallance and on the right the former slaughterhouse, now the brewhouse: note through the window the pvcu cladding which lines the interior of the brewhouse (picture by Colin Williams)
Having checked in at the brewery Bob Wallis strolls round the corner to join the rest of the party in the village pub where half of us manage to keep ourselves amused as the other half have their brewery tour.
As of January 2010 there's a new family running the Bay Horse- the Groveses of Knottingley.
We were lucky enough to be in Browns' latest minicoach.
Who's not itching to get a black marker pen on this plaque?
says it all
Ian Groves has done bar work before and he's not afraid of hard work: in his first week at the Bay Horse, his first pub as landlord, he practically tripled cask ale sales much to the delight of Old Mill Brewery.
a pensive Jason Hall
a fine view of the brewery's three fermenters - the new square one came on loan (sort of) from Brown Cow Brewery. The copper's on the left with the mash tun extreme left
Electronics have reached Great Heck
a peek into the coolstore
Inside the coolstore there's not a plastic cask to be seen.
The gospel according to Denzil: we've yet to meet two lads with more passion than Denzil and Jason. That stout has been maturing since Wakefield Beer Festival in November 2009.
After excellent lunches at the Bay Horse washed down with Old Mill ale, we repair to the Kings Head at Pollington to try more Great Heck beer.
The Kings Arms guest ales usually include Great Heck.
pool ace Ronnie Crookes
Our Richard Horrocks on cue. The three lads behind are from Leeds CAMRA but living on the Wakefield side of Leeds are frequent and welcome guests on our trips.
It's hotting up.
This air raid shelter photographed as our bus was leaving Pollington now has an agricultural use. Hopefully Denzil will send a message explaining more.
third pub of the day (photo by Colin Williams)
The Jemmy Hirst is almost as much a dog pub as a human one. The riverbanks are terrific for dog-walking. (photo by Colin Williams)
I'm deliriously happy, actually. (photo by Colin Williams)
Jason Hall with the apple of his eye Siobhan Beatrice Hall after whom Great Heck SBH was named. Photo taken by Colin Williams at our final watering hole and supper stop, the George & Dragon at West Haddlesey.
